5 Maintenance tips for Windows 7

1. Don’t forget to run Windows update. This takes very little effort, you can even set Windows to download and install the updates automatically for you. These updates will keep your PC stable and safe. To access the Windows Update settings go to Control Panel and then Windows Update. From here you can run an update directly or change the settings to automate the process.
2. Do clean out Temporary files. You can end up with a lot of clutter inside your hard drive which over time can make your PC sluggish. While there are utilities that can achieve this in Windows itself, I prefer to use the free CCleaner program as this also incorporates two extra nifty functions, one to help manage your start up applications (this speeds up the time it takes your machine to boot), and another to help uninstall unwanted programs.
3. Don’t worry about defragmenting your hard drive. Gone are the days of Windows XP when you had to leave the computer running for 9 hours to complete a defrag, Windows 7 now does this automatically in the background.
4. Do install some type of antivirus and keep it up to date. It's true Windows is more susceptible to malicious viruses and software than other OS platforms, but the good news is protection doesn’t have to cost the earth. In fact, it doesn’t have to cost anything. Microsoft Security Essentials is free and offers robust protection against all kinds of Malware and internet nasties. Of course your AV software is only as good as your virus definitions so keep your software updated and schedule regular scans.
5. Do back up your hard drive. Any computer is only as useful and valuable as the data and applications on it. The only way to protect your data is to back it up. Backing up is the most underperformed of all the maintenance tasks, but the one you miss most in the event of a disaster. Take it from someone who learnt the hard way. There are a number of ways to do this, from simply dragging and dropping your documents folder to an external hard drive, using a cloud service like Dropbox or automating the process using a free utility like Crashplan. Whatever you do, investing a little time each week to make sure your data is safe can save you hours of panic, and £’s in potential lost time and business.

By Spencer Heap - Network Engineer